Quick-couplers for securing oilrefining elements in housings



Jan. 22, 1957 A. R. WHITE 2,778,503

QUICK-COUPLERS FOR SECURING OIL-REFINING ELEMENTS IN HOUSINGS Filed June 22, 1953 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVEN TOR.

ERTR 14/11/712 W I M A T 7 ORA/1i 454 nited States Patent QUICK-COUPLERS FOR SECURING OIL- REFINING ELEMENTS lN. HOUSIN GS Albert R; White, Glendale, Calif. Application June 2 2, 1953, Serial No; 363,215

4 Claims. or. 210- 170) The present invention relates to improvements in quick-couplers for securing oil refiningelements in housings. It consists of the combinations, constructions, and arrangement of parts, as hereinafter described and claimed.

Heretofore it has been a common practice to mount an oil-refining element, or pack, in its housing by utilizing interfitting threads. Such 'a provision results in requiring several turns of the element, and the employment of a wrench, during the insertion or removal of the element.

As the cardinal object of'my' invention, it is proposed to provide a time-saving means for coupling anoil-refining pack in its housing, where a slight rotation and a simultaneous advancement of a coupling part are sufficient for Drawings For a better understanding. of myinvention, reference should be had to the accompanying drawings, forming part of this application, in which: 7

Figure 1 is a side elevational view, partly insection, of a housing having a plurality of oil-refining elements secured therein by the first embodiment of my quickcoupler;

Figure 2 is an enlargement elevation disclosing one of.

the quick-couplers being applied to a tubular outletifitting of an oil-refining housing partition, parts being shown in section;

Figure 3 is a view similar to Figure 2 with the coupler secured in final position on the outlet fitting;

Figure 4 is a horizontal sectional view taken along the plane lV-IV'of Figure 3;.

Figure 5 is a view corresponding to Figure 4, with a collar and its filtering element rotated to cause a coil spring of the coupler to grip on the tubular outlet fitting;

Figure 6 is a diagrammatic view disclosing the coil spring of the coupler adjusted to release its grip on the tubular fitting; I I

Figure 7 is a similar view, but illustrating. the spring adjusted to grip the fitting; v

Figure 8 is a side elevational view of the upper portion of an oil-refining element housing, showing a second or modified embodiment of my quick-couplers;

Figure 9 is an enlarged elevational view, with parts in section, of themodified form of couplers;

These Figures lll'andll are horizontal sectional views taken along the transverse tively, of Figure 9.

While I have shown only the. preferred. forms of my planes XX and XIXI, respec- 2,778,503 Patented. Jan. 22, 1 957 2 invention, it should be understood that various changes, or modifications, may be made within the scope of the annexed claims without departing from the spirit thereof.

Detailed description Referring to the first embodiment of my invention, as shown inFigures 1 to 7, inclusive, 1' provide a housing indicated generally at'A having head andbasecaps B and C, respectively, removably attached to the upper and lower ends thereof (see Figure 1). Within the housing are mounted-a plurality of oil-refining elements or packs D, which are designed to remove foreign matter from oil passing therethrough.

it will be notedthat the head cap B has a partition 10, which defines a compartment 11.- Moreover, a plurality of tubular outlet fittings E, corresponding in numberwith the refining elements, have their upper sections .12 passing through and anchored to the partition 10' (see Figures 2 and 3). The bores 14 of these fittings E place the interior 15 of the filtering elements D in communication with the compartment 11.

As suggested in Figure 1, an outlet conduit 16 extends from the head cap compartment 11 to a place where the refined oil is to be utilized. For the purpose of delivering the oil F to the. interior of the housing A, I make use of an inlet conduit 17. This incoming oil must pass through a casing 13 and suitable'material 19 of a refining element D before flowing into the interior of a flexible and for aminiferous conduit,.pref'erably a coil spring H. T he-oil then flows through a bore 14 and into the compartmentll. A drain outlet 20 may be provided at the lower end of the housing.

In structural details, each of the outlet fittings E has an upper cylindrical section 21 upon. which an adjustable flanged nut 22 is'threaded. The out 22 constitutes a stop for limiting the upward movement of the top of the coil spring H along the tubular outlet fitting E. The lower portion of each fitting defines adownwardly-tapered conical. section 23, which is adapted to be inserted into the interior of a refining element-D.

With particular reference to Figures 2 and 5, inclusive, I make use of a collar G on each of the refining elements D, which has a bore 24 arranged to receive the upper. portion of the coil spring H. A lower setoflaterally.- projecting fingers 25 are integral with the collar G, and are positioned within the top part of the oil-refining casing 18 to maintain thelatter spread out, and to aid inxanchoring the refining element D to the collar G. The top of this oil-refining casing may be. drawn against the collar by binding string 26, or other suitable fastening means.

Furthermore, each collar G has an upper set of fingers 27 projecting laterally therefrom above the top. of the refining element to which. the particular collar is attached. These fingers are exposed, and are adapted to be grasped manually when attaching the collar to the outlet fitting E, or removalof the former from the latter, in the manner presently to be described.

Inasmuch as the fingers 25 and 27 are. identical, either. end of the collar G may be placed uppermost on thecoil spring H, prior to securing the top portion of the oil; refining pack casing 18 over the lowermost set of fingers. Also, both sets of fingers 25 and 27 are symmetrically arranged. This arrangement will facilitate assembly.

For the purpose of providing a quick attachment of an oil'refining pack D to an outlet fitting E, l provide a coil spring H, which extends downwardly through the bore 24 of the collar and throughout the length of a flexible oil refining element D. However, a set-screw 28 is threaded through the collar so as to clamp the spring H to the latter. The fingers 25 prevent the refining ele-.

ment from rotating on the coil spring. The upper coils.

three inches. The remaining length of the coil spring has its coils spaced slightly apart to permit the flow of the refined oil into the interior of the spring. 7

With the spring H firmly secured to the collar, both are telescoped upwardly over the conical section 23 of anoutlet fitting E. The inner diameter of the closed coil spring section 29 is slightly less than the outer diameter of the straight cylindrical portion 21. This will cause a tight friction grip to be maintained between the spring portion 29 and the straight cylindrical portion 21 of the tubular outlet fitting E of sufiicient force to cause the oil refining pack D to be supported by the fitting B. As the upper closed coils 29 of this spring are moved onto the straight cylindrical portion 21, it will be necessary to rotate the spring H slightly in the direction of the arrow 30 so as to enlarge the coils and permit them to be moved over the straight cylindrical portion 21. It will be obvious that when the spring is turned in one direction about the cylindrical portion 21, as suggested by the arrow 30 in Figure 6, the upper coils will partially unwind, producing a larger diameter and permitting the spring to be moved upwardly toward the adjustable nut 22. Upon releasing the coil spring H, the tendency of the coils to return to normal position (see arrow 31 in Figure 7) will cause the upper coils to clamp themselves upon the exterior of the fitting E.

Thus an upward thrust of the collar G and its spring H, accompanied by a slight turning movement, are sufficient for anchoring a refining element D to an outlet fitting E. The lower end 32 of this fitting is well within the interior of the element. Obviously, the set-screw 28 keeps the collar G from dropping relative to the spring H. The conical section 23 prevents the closed coils of the spring from bending and forming openings between adjacent coils near the top of the pack. The oil must therefore flow through the refining material before it can enter the outlet fitting B.

When it is desired to remove a particular refining element, it is merely necessary to rotate the collar G, by manually grasping the exposed fingers 27, turning the collar in the direction of the arrow 34) to expand the upper coils 29 of the spring. This will release the refining element and its collar and spring for removal from the tubular outlet fitting E.

In the event that any adjacent coils 29 at the top of the closed portion of the spring should separate slightly, providing a small opening therebetween, the oil entering such an opening actually would be filtered, with such opening serving as an edge-type filter. However, should a slight opening occur between the closed coils, it would not remain a space for very long, but would soon be filled with deposits and become closed to any further oil flow.

With respect to the second embodiment shown in Figures 8 to 11, inclusive, the housing A, head cap B with I its partition 19, oil-refining flexible and elongated elements D, and collar G with its set-screw 28, all are identical with the same parts as previously described in connection with the first embodiment. Accordingly, like reference numerals have been applied to corresponding parts of the two forms of the invention. The coil spring H has a few coils 29 at the upper end that are spaced-apart. The next section of coils 25! contact each other and the remaining coils are spaced apart.

The tubular outlet fittings E in the modification are fashioned with cylindrical upper sections 21 and conical shaped lower sections 23. A projection 33 extends from the straight cylindrical portion 21 of the fitting E, and is adapted to enter between adjacent lead coils 29' at the upper end of the spring H (see Figure 9). This arrangement provides a positive connection between the spring and the fitting, with the closed upper coil hugging the portion 21. The spaced-apart coils 29' extend above the top of the collar G.

It will be quite apparent that an oil-refining element D in the modified form may be readily attached to a selected outlet fitting E by grasping the fingers 27 and telescoping the collar G and the top of the spring H upwardly over the conical end of this fitting. When the spaced spring coils 29 reach the projection 33, the collar may be turned to cause the lead coils to thread themselves around the projection. The reverse steps are taken when it is desired to remove a refining element. The tubular fitting E may be provided with the nut 22 if desired, but this is really not necessary.

Although I have shown in Figures 1 and 8, a casing A housing a plurality of elongated and flexible oil-refining packs, I do not wish to be confined to the type of casing illustrated. The novelty of the invention lies in the quick-coupling for securing the oil-refining packs in place and for quickly removing the packs when desirable. The operator need only grasp the fingers 27 when attaching the oil-refining element D to the tubular outlet fitting E, and when removing the element therefrom.

in the first embodiment of my invention, the portion 29 of the coil spring H, extending beyond the top of the collar G, is fed over the lower end 32 of the fitting E. As this portion is advanced along the tapered portion 23 of the fitting, it will come into contact with the straight cylindrical portion 21. It is at this point Where it is necessary to rotate the collar G slightly to rotate the spring H in a direction of the arrow 31) in Figure 6 for loosening the coils 29 that engage With the straight cylindrical portion 21. This will enlarge the diameter of these coils as indicated in Figure 6 and permit the coil portion 29 to he slipped along the straight cylindrical portion 21 until the end of the coil comes into contact with the nut or stop 22.

The operator may now free his hand from the fingers 27 and the coils of portion 29 in trying to return to normal position, as indicated by the arrow 31 in Figure 7, Will cause the portion 29 to grip the straight cylindrical portion 21 with sufficient force to secure the entire oil-refining element D to the tubular outlet fitting E. No tools are necessary during the quick-coupling of the coil spring H to the fitting E. There is also no need of rotating the element D a number of revolutions in securing it to the fitting D. Figure 7 illustrates the tendency of the coils of portion 29 to return to normal position when the fingers 27 are freed.

The oil-refining element D becomes contaminated in time from the foreign matter that it removes from the oil. The substitution of a new element D for the old one therefore becomes necessary. The operator in removing the contaminated element D from the fitting E, need not grasp the oily casing 19 of the element. He merely grasps the fingers 27 and rotates the collar G slightly in a direction to open the coils of the spring section 29 and permit thespring to be slid downwardly and off from the tubular fitting E. The old element D may be thrown away and a new one substituted. Again no tools are necessary to effect this change and the old element D need not be rotated a number of times to free it from the fitting E.

The second embodiment of my invention makes use of a projection 33 for positively connecting the spring H to the fitting E. A few coils at the top of the spring H are spaced from each other as shown at 29' in Figure 9. The remainder of the portion 29 of the spring H shows the coils contacting each other for at least the length of the collar G and a short distance therebeyond. The remainder of the spring H is the same as the spring H in that the coils are spaced from each other and the spring extends throughout the length of the casing 18 to provide a flexible and tubular passage for the refined oil, the passage extending throughout the length of the element D.

The spaced apart coils 29' provide a helical passage for receiving the projection 33 when the element D is attached to the fitting E. The projection 33 is on the spa-h straight cylindrical portion 21 and it is necessary for the operator to rotate the collar G slightly for opening the coils 29' for causing them to receive the portion 21. In addition the spring H is rotated a few turns for feeding the projection 33 into the helical groove provided by the spaced-apart coils 29. I

A positive connection for the element D results. The projection 33 will hold the spring H in place in addition to the coils gripping the straight cylindrical portion 21. In removing the element D, the spring H is rotated in a reverse direction to free it from the projection 33, whereupon the element can be removed from the fitting E and a new one substituted. No tools are necessary in attaching or detaching the form of the invention shown in Figures 8 to 11, inclusive.

I claim:

1. In combination: a stationary tubular fitting having a bore extending lengthwise therethrough for the passage of oil; the fitting defining a relatively long tapered section on the exterior thereof; the tapered section being smooth and gradually increasing in diameter from an outer end of the fitting; an oil-refining pack of substantial thickness and material, and having an elongated coil spring partially enclosed therein, with the spring constituting a hollow, flexible core for the pack through which oil will flow; adjacent coils of the pack-enclosed spring part being spaced apart for passage of oil therebetween; the spring having one end section projecting through and beyond an end of the pack, with the interior bore defined by the spring being exposed; a collar encircling the spring and being clamped thereto; the collar having one end section thereof disposed within and being secured to the pack, and its opposite end section arranged exteriorly of the pack and exposed for manual grasping; the tapered section of the fitting being exposed to facilitate the piloting and endwise slipping of the spring thereover, when the collar is telescoped over the fitting; the bore defined by the coils in the projecting end of the spring being less than the diameter at the larger end of the tapered section, whereby the outermost coils will grip the fitting,

when they reach a point on the taper of the fitting which.

is slightly larger than the bore defined by the interior of the spring, and holds at this point when the outermost coils are firmly shoved into the tapered section, thereby providing a quick-coupling between the pack and the fitting; the pack being quickly uncoupled when the collar is turned in a direction tending to unwind and expand the outermost coils of the spring; the fitting having sufficient length to expand downwardly into the pack when the latter is quick-coupled to the fitting to prevent oil flow around the fitting and into the pack.

2. The combination as set forth in claim 1; and in which the exterior of the fitting is fashioned with a cylindrical section, which merges into the tapered section at the larger end of the latter without interruption; the outermost coils of the spring beyond the pack being movable onto the cylindrical section, when the collar is rotated in a direction tending to unwind and expand the coils.

3. The combination as set forth in claim 1; and in which the collar is provided with a set of laterally-projecting fingers disposed within the interior of the pack, and engaging with the latter to keep the pack spread out and to prevent the pack from rotating relative to the collar; and in which the collar is provided with a second set of laterally-projecting fingers that are positioned exteriorly of the pack for manual grasping, when quick-coupling the pack to the fitting or quick-uncoupling the pack therefrom.

4. The combination as set forth in claim 1; and in which a projection is fixed to and extends from the exterior surface of the fitting; this projection being positioned for insertion between adjacent coils of that part of the spring that projects from the pack, thereby positively anchoring the spring to the fitting, when the spring is rotated in a predetermined direction relative to the fitting, during quickcoupling of the pack to the fitting.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 408,487 Jewell .4 Aug. 6, 1889 1,950,487 Frolander et al. Mar. 13, 1934 2,3 69,857 Russell et al Feb. 20, 1945 2,379,582 Kracklauer July 3, 1945 2,451,067 Butler Oct. 12, 1948 2,453,952 White Nov..16, 1948 2,487,769 Ebert et al. Nov. 8, 1949 FOREIGN PATENTS 100,687 Australia Apr. 15,1937 

